AICAR, an activator of AMPK, inhibits adipogenesis via the WNT/β-catenin pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to sense the cellular energy state and regulates various cellular energy metabolism pathways through its activation by AMP, an indicator of a low-energy state. 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, efficiently inhibited the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. To elucidate its possible mechanism of action, the expression levels of β-catenin and other members of the WNT/β-catenin pathway were analyzed during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells in the presence or absence of AICAR.

A promoter polymorphism -2122C>T of CHI3L1 is associated with serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol level in Korean subjects.

Objectives: This study assessed the effects of 10 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CHI3L1 gene on serum LDL cholesterol levels in 290 Korean subjects.

Design And Methods: Genotyping analyses of SNPs were conducted by TaqMan® method. The effects of the promoter SNP on mRNA expression and nuclear factor binding were measured by real-time PCR and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, respectively.

Platycodin D inhibits adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells by modulating Kruppel-like factor 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

In this study, platycodin D was found to inhibit intracellular triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells with an IC(50) of 7.1 microM. The expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism such as fatty-acid-binding protein 4 and lipoprotein lipase were significantly downregulated following treatment with platycodin D.

SH21B, an anti-obesity herbal composition, inhibits fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high fat diet-induced obese mice through the modulation of the adipogenesis pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: SH21B is an anti-obesity composition composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Prunus armeniaca Maxim, Ephedra sinica Stapf, Acorus gramineus Soland, Typha orientalis Presl, Polygala tenuifolia Willd and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner. It has been used for the treatment of obesity in traditional medical clinics in Korea, but its anti-obesity effects and mechanism of action have not been studied until now.

Aim Of The Study: This study was conducted to confirm the anti-obesity effects of SH21B and to elucidate its mechanism of action.

Antiobesity effect of baicalin involves the modulations of proadipogenic and antiadipogenic regulators of the adipogenesis pathway.

In this study, the antiobesity effects of baicalin, 5,6-dihydroxyflavone-7-glucuronic acid, were characterized using an in vitro system of adipogenesis, i.e. fat cell formation.

Shikonin inhibits fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Shikonin, 5,6-dihydroxyflavone-7-glucuronic acid, is the main ingredient of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc, and was reported to have various biological activities including antiinflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial and others. This study aimed to elucidate, for the first time, the antiobesity activity of shikonin and its mechanism of action.